A new Garda station for Sligo remained a top priority according to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

He was responding to a query in the Dáil from Deputy Tony McLoughlin who wondered why there was a delay in commencing the construction on the regional Garda station.

The Minister said the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 was an ambitious 5-year Programme based on agreed Garda priorities underpinned by over €60 million Exchequer funding as well as a major Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The Public Private Partnership arrangement included in the Programme is intended to deliver new stations at Sligo, Clonmel and Macroom as well as a new custody suite at the Garda Station at Anglesea Street Cork.

"Site acquisition for this PPP bundle has been complex and time-consuming. I am informed by the OPW and the Garda authorities that the OPW acquired sites for the development of the new station in Macroom in 2015 and that the site for the new station in Sligo was acquired in 2018.

"The development of PPP projects is progressed under the auspices of the National Development Finance Agency.

"Work is ongoing within my Department and An Garda Síochána on the next stage of this important project and my Department and An Garda Síochána are actively engaging with the NDFA with a view to progressing the matter further.

"It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the completion of these projects at this point.

However, I can assure the Deputy that delivery of the new stations at Sligo, Clonmel and Macroom through this PPP arrangement is being pursued as a priority," said the Minister.